Profielpagina Universiteit Utrecht

My research focus is on the role of religion in contexts of violent conflict. Analysing this role, I combine philosophical perspectives with my interest in social sciences and psychology. I have published on conflicts in Indonesia, analysing the transition of political tensions into religious language and the religious framing of - at first sight - trivial gestures. I am also interested in the historical stereotyping of Islam in 'Europe'. Since my educational background is also in European philosophy, another focus is on the specific place of 'religion', and - more particulary - Islam in so-called secular societies. I am inspired by people as different as Judith Butler, Talal Asad, Philip Zimbardo, Vamik Volkan and Jaques Derrida.

Teaching very different courses at both Utrecht University and University College Utrecht, I try to concentrate on a teaching strategy in which I combine three levels of analyses: 1. data/facts; 2. histories/interpretations/models; 3. narratives/biographies.